Chapter 4: I find relief underneath

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I find relief underneath

 

 

 

 

     The next morning a very cold nose awakened me on my backside and a bark. “Ah!” I yelled, as it was a big shock. He almost moaned pathetically, and I knew what he wanted from me. “Let me guess, your hungry right? Do you want some food?” I said. As soon as he heard the word “food“, he instantly perked up and was practically jumping for joy.

     I considered what I had left, and what I was able to give him. That’s when a little, white, cute, fury mouse scampered across the room. He lowered his shoulders, flicked his tail once, and then pounced on it. He played with it a moment and then proceeded to eat it. “Ew! Gross! I guess you have to eat too. But try not to do it in front of me anymore, OK.” I said to him. I think he kind of ignored me any way. He just quietly continued to eat.

     Now I had to figure out a name. But unfortunately, I was terrible at naming things. I once had a cat that died before I could even name it! I thought about it for a while. Then I decided on one. “I think that I’ll call you..... Midnight.” I said. He seemed to like that.

     He finished eating and hopped up onto my lap, demanding attention. So I gave him what he wanted. After a while of pleasured petting, he jumped down and bolted out the door. I decided to go out there with him to climb trees. I wanted to see all the things that were near with out the travel.

     I looked hard for a good tree to climb up with good sturdy branches. Midnight came and followed happily behind me. I finally found a big tall maple tree with low branches.

     I grasped on to the lowest branch and vigorously pulled myself up. I reached up and grabbed another branch, then swung up and wrapped my legs around the next branch up. I twisted and turned as I made my way up the tree. I made it halfway up the tree and rested on a large branch for a brief moment. I started up again after a few moments. I grabbed the next branch upward and moved my foot one branch over. Suddenly, the branch I moved my foot to snapped under my weight. It was a weak branch. I’m not fat. I grabbed another higher branch and was just dangling there by a hand.

     I tried to swing back and forth to grab another branch, but as I did, by bad luck perhaps, the branch I was holding also snapped. It sent me spiraling towards the cold hard ground.

     Luckily, about three branches down, a stronger looking branch snagged my pants. That hung me upside down about a foot from the ground. Midnight strolled over and licked my face while I hung there. I pushed him away and wiggled around until I fell to the ground. I was profusely annoyed by then.

     I got back up and tried again. I made it up with only a few slips. I climbed until the trunk was only seven inches thick. That was way up there. I could see far away from the valley to the river. It was really beautiful and a sight to behold. Although I still couldn’t see the city from there, or even a sign of it.

     That’s when I started to freak out a little. I realized that I had no way of getting any badly needed supplies or medical help. Then the thoughts diluted as I thought back to a history class with a lesson on the structures of old style log cabins.

     I swiftly climbed down the tree, falling from the third branch again. “Come Midnight! Come here boy!” I called to him, and he came. I ran back to the cabin, panting the whole way. I burst through the front door and to the back corner. I dropped to my knees and ripped the rug away to reveal a trap door with a metal lift ring. I grabbed the ring and opened what should have led to a storage and pantry room.

     I dropped into it and searched for some sort of light source. I found a lantern with some kerosene still in it. I turned it on to reveal a miracle. I saw three big walls of cans and boxes of food on the shelves. The other wall was completely covered with supplies such as ropes, knives, nails, fishing poles and other random useful stuff.

I was in a daze. I had all I needed for a long while. I was happy with my little discovery. I smiled as I tried to climb back through the trap door to the main floor. I stood up and closed the door. I moved the rug so I could have easier access to the supply room.

     Midnight was standing in the doorway looking at me funny on why I ran to the cabin and disappeared into the floor. I just called him over and petted him. He started to get a little rambunctious and I rolled him over and rubbed his tummy. He wanted to play. So I let him outside for a while, so he could chase any little thing that moved.

     He came back a little later scratching on the door. I was working on organizing a tackle box that I had found down there so I could have fish the next day for food. I opened the door and he dragged in a dead rabbit he had caught. I praised him for the food and let him back out.

     He came back later with another rabbit and just looked at me, expecting more praise. I gave it too him and let him go back out so I could return to my work. He came back again and this time it wasn’t a rabbit, it was a small dead deer. He just looked at me and wagged his tail. “Thanks buddy, but I don’t think we need anymore for awhile, OK?” I said to him. He still ran back outside and caught a squirrel. After that I kept him inside.

     I wrestled him awhile and he loved playing with me. He had really taken to me and seemed to depend on me. I think it was because he didn’t have any parents that he or I knew of. I loved him too though. I rolled him over and he kicked his leg and fell sleep. I was set for quite awhile.

 

Chapter 4